Metal frame construction



June 29, 1954 w. c. LYONS METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1950 Patented June 29, I954 STATES 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a metal frame construction and particularly a construction adapted for use in connection with cellar, bulkhead or hatchway doors. The invention is particularly concerned with the frame, usually rectangular in shape, which surrounds the opening closed by a door or doors, and which frame supports the door or doors in position.

The invention is illustrated as applied to cellar doors such as that shown in United States Letters Patent 2,174,989, granted October 3, 1939, to George W. Lyons, but it will be understood that the frame construction embodying the present improvements may be applied to other types of doors or closures.

In constructions of this type there is usually a frame, generally rectangular in shape, by which the doors are supported. It is desirable that this frame be made in parts so that it may be shipped in knocked-down condition or in disassembled condition, and the parts assembled when the door is installed. It is also desirable that these frames be weather-tight and, therefore, the joints between the various elements of the frame should be so constructed that when joined together, a substantially weather-tight joint will be eifected.

Also, it is desirable that the frames he so constructed that even an inexperienced person may assemble them in correct relation, and this result is obtained in the present instance by so forming the elements of the frame that it is impossible to join them in any but the proper relation.

Qne object of the present invention is to provide a frame construction for hatchway, cellar or bulkhead openings which will be substantially weather-tight and which will comprise individual parts designed to be readily assembled together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a frame construction of the character described which is so arranged that it is practically impossible to assemble the parts thereof in any but the proper relationship to each other.

Astill further object of the invention is to provide a frame construction of the character described which consists of a number of individual parts, which parts are designed for convenient assembly by an inexperienced person to construct the completed frame.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cellar door frame construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the construction at one of the corners of the frame;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the parts of Fig. 2 in assembled relation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4- of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown in the drawings a cellar door construction comprising a frame consisting of side members iii of substantially triangular shape. Adjacent the upper ends of these side members are rails or flanges H which may, if desired, be formed integrally with the side Walls Ii], and which flange extends in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the member H].

Each of the flanges ii is provided with an upwardly extending lip l2 along its inner edge, as shown more especially in Figs. 1 an. these lips cooperating With the peripheral downwardlyextending lips l3, provided at the edges of the doors I l to make a weather-tight construction when the doors are closed.

The doors M, as shown in Fig. l, are hinged to the flanges H by hinges it: so that they may be opened to a vertical position as shown. It will also be noted that, as shown in Fig. 2, the lip l2 does not extend throughout the length of the flange H but terminates at a point adjacent the upper edge of the corresponding door It so as to leave a portion is of the flange H with a flat edge unprovided with the upstanding lip.

A crosshead or header plate ll is adapted to extend between the two flanges ii at the top of the frame above the upper edges of the doors and while no similar crosshead is shown at the opposite end of the frame, it will be understood that if a four-sided rectangular frame is desired, a similar crosshead may also be employed at the opposite end.

This crosshead consists generally of a flat plate of sheet metal, and when used in connection with cellar doors, as illustrated, may be provided with upwardly inclined lip it at its upper edge to fit against the wall of the building. This lip may or may not be provided depending upon the relation in which the frame is to be used. At its inner edge the metal of the crosshead is bent upwardly, as shown at ill, and then forwardly, as shown at 29, to overlie the body of the plate and create a channel to drain off the water falling upon the crosshead ll. The downwardly-extending lip 2| at the top of the door is designed to lie above the edge of the member 26 so that the lower edge of the lip 21 will fit down relatively closely to the upper surface of the crosshead ll.

Adjacent each end of the crosshead is secured or at its end adjacent the door opening in the.

frame, extends inwardly beyond the crosshead or header plate H and beyond the upturned portion i9, as shown at 28. The inner edge of this extension 28 is turned upwardly to provide a lip.

29 which abuts the member [9 and, as shown in Fig. 5, lies substantially parallel to, and spaced slightly from, the lip 52 on the flange. When the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 3, with the.

member 59 against the edge of the lip 12, the openings 26 and 21 will be in registration, the bolts 25 may be passed therethrough to secure the parts together. The edge of the flange ll lies against the edge of the header plate but owing to the thickness of the material the edge of the lip 12 will abut against the part l9. Call;- ing material 39 may be placed between the lips l2 and 29 so that rain cannot leak through the frame at this point.

In some instances it might occur that when the parts are assembled, a workman would place the flange I l below the plate 23 instead of above this plate. This is impossible with the present construction, however, as the extension 28 of the plate 23, which extends beyond the plate i8. would engage the upper end portion of the lip l2 and prevent the assembly of the parts in this relation as the bolt openings 28 and 2] would not be in registration. It is only possible, therefore, to assemble the parts in the position shown with the upturned portion it of the header plate or crosshead abutting the end edge of the lip 52, as shown in Fig. 3, so that at this corner a tight joint will be made, particularly when the space 3 filled with calling material.

I have described the construction at one end of the header plate H, but it will be understood that the same construction will be employed at the other end of this plate, and that, if desired, a similar plate may be employed at the other end of the rectangular frame which would be connected with the side flanges I l in the same manner. As illustrated, the parts of the frame are formed of sheet metal.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A frame construction comprising substantially parallel side members, a header plate extending between the ends of said side members to form a framed opening, each of said side members having an upturned lip along its inner edge, said lip terminating short of the end thereof adjacent the header plate, a plate member secured to the under-surface of the header plate at each end thereof and having a flat portion projecting from the edges of the latter, the inner edge of the header plate being bent upwardly, and means for assembling said members with the side mem: bers overlying the flat projecting. portions of the plate members and secured thereto, and the lip of each of the side members abutting the upwardly bent edge of the header plate, each of said plate members also projecting inwardly from the header plate to lie below the lip on the adjacent side member.

2. A frame construction comprising substantially parallel side members, a header plate extending between the ends of said side members to form a framed opening, each of said side members having an upturned lip along its inner edge, said lip terminating short of the end thereof adjacent the header plate, a plate member secured to the under-surface of the header plate at each end thereof and having a flat portion projecting from the edges of the latter, the inner edge of the header plate being bent upwardly, and means for assembling said members with the side members overlying the flat projecting portions of the plate members and secured thereto, the lip of each of the side members abutting the upwardly bent edge of the header plate, and said plate member also projecting inwardly from the header plate and having an, upturned lip on said projecting portion lying adjacent the lip upon the adjacent side member and abutting the upwardly bent inner edge of the header plate, each of said plate members also projecting inwardly from the header plate to lie below the lip on the adjacent side member.

3. A frame construction as in claim 2 having callzing material between the lip on the adjacent side member and the lip on the plate member.

l. A frame construction comprising a, header plate having a plate member secured to its underside adjacent cach end thereof, said last-named plates having fiat portions projecting from the ends of the header plate and also from one side thereof, a flat side member secured adjacent one of its ends to the upper surface of each of the plate members, the edge of each side member abutting the adjacent edge of the header plate, each of said side members having a lip extending to the edge of theheader plate and overlying the r flat portion of the adjacent plate member projecting from said side of the header plate, and the header plate having an upturned inner edge against which said lips abut.

5. A frame construction comprising a header plate having a plate member secured to its underside adjacent each end thereof, said last-named plates having flat portions projecting from the ends of the header plate and also from one side thereof, a flat side member secured adjacent one of its ends to the upper surface of each of the platev members, the edge of each side member abutting the adjacent edge of the header plate, each of said side members having a lip extending to the edge of the header plate and overlying the flat portion of the adjacent plate member projecting from said side of the header plate, the header plate having an upturned inner edge against which said lips abut, and each of said plate members having an upturned lip spaced inwardly from, and substantially parallel to, the lip of the adjacent side member.

6. A frame construction comprising a header plate having a plate member secured to its underside adjacent each end thereof, said last-named each of said side members having a lip extending Number Name Date to the edge of the header plate and overlying the 1,492,053 Sweeley Apr. 29, 1924 fiat portion of the adjacent plate member pro- 1,548,398 Twitchell Aug. 4, 1925 jecting from said side of the header plate, the 2,194,406 Gunter Jan, 17, 1939 header plate having an upturned inner edge 5 2,154,989 Lyons Oct. 3, 1939 against Which said lips abut, and each of said 2,197,167 Wolf Apr. 16, 1940 plate members having an upturned lip spaced 2,523,818 Brown Nov. 7, 1950 inwardly from, and substantially parallel to, the lip of the adjacent member, and calking FOREIGN PATENTS material between said lips. 10 Number 00111117? y Date 322,252 France Jan. 31, 1903 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 587,210 Jackson July 27, 1897 15 

